A COUPLE walking their dog watched in horror as a driver crashed into their parked car, York magistrates heard.

Matthew Thomas Blackburn was trying to do a U-turn manoeuvre.

After hitting the other car, he drove off despite the couple signalling at him to stop, said Katy Vowles, prosecuting.

He was nearly twice the drink drive limit.

Police spotted Blackburn on Dalton Terrace.

He initially ignored their order to stop and drove on at 20mph but then stopped at a red light, she said.

Blackburn, 26, of Farmers Way, Copmanthorpe, pleaded guilty to drink driving and failure to stop.

He was banned from driving for 20 months and ordered to pay £319, consisting of a £200 fine, a £34 statutory surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.

Defence solicitor Jackie East, for Blackburn, said: “There is no justification he can put before the court why he drove in this particular manner on this particular occasion.”

He accepted he had collided with the other car.

Ms Vowles said the couple had taken their dog for a walk late on August 27.

As they were finishing the walk, they saw the Hyundai with Blackburn at the wheel drive into the side of their vehicle which was parked outside their Acomb home.

He didn't have his car lights on although it was after dark.

After hitting the couple's car, he continued with the turn before driving off towards the city centre.

"They tried to flag the driver down and make him stop," said Ms Vowles.

After police caught up with him at the red traffic light, he gave a positive breath test and was arrested and taken to Fulford Road Police Station.

There a second breath test revealed he had 67 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Ms East said Blackburn had been in a panic when he saw the police behind him, but had pulled over after a short distance.

He is currently jobless.